By Neeraj Kumar

Patna, May 17: The body of a four-year-old boy, Ayush Kumar, who had gone missing, was discovered inside a drain on the premises of a private school in Patna. This tragic discovery led to an irate mob setting the school building on fire on Friday.

Agitated parents, family members, and locals also blocked roads and burnt tires, disrupting vehicular traffic. Police reported that Ayush, son of Shailesh Roy, a resident of Digha-Polson Road in Patna, went to school on Thursday morning. After attending regular classes, he also attended tuition sessions on the school premises but did not return home, prompting his worried family to launch a desperate search.

The family’s worst fears were confirmed when Ayush’s lifeless body was found in the school drain early Friday morning, sparking protests, violence, and arson. Angered by the incident and suspecting foul play, locals took to the streets, blocking roads and staging protests outside the school. Their anger soon turned violent, resulting in the school building being set on fire.

Firefighters were rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze. Police personnel also arrived to disperse the agitated crowd and restore order.

Ayush’s family has accused the school administration of negligence and possible involvement in the child’s death. The police have launched an investigation into the matter, but the cause of Ayush’s death is yet to be determined. The police stated that a post-mortem examination would ascertain the cause of death and determine if there was any foul play.

A senior police official said a case of child abduction was registered on Thursday, initiating the investigation. CCTV footage from the school revealed that Ayush had entered the school but did not exit. The investigation uncovered that the boy sustained injuries and became unconscious on the school premises, after which his body was dumped in the drain near a classroom, according to the officer.